Extensible stepladder



E. JACOB. I EXTENSIBLE STEPLADDEH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1919.'

Patented Feb. '15, 1921.

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flJwartZZw UNITED EDWARD JACOB, 0F GARY, INDIANA.

EXTENSIBLE srnrrnnnnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1921.

Application filed January 8, 1919. Serial No. 270;!01.

To all whomz't. mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JAooB, a citizen of the United ,states, and a resident of Gary, Lake county, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Stepladders, of which thefollowingis declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to extensible step ladders and its principal objects are, to provide an extensible step ladder of improved construction; to simplify and cheapen the cost thereof and to provide one that may be readily collapsed into compact form, whereby no extra room is required for storing it, over what would be necessary for storing the ordinary step ladder. WVith these and other objects in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of an extensible step ladder illustrating a simple embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2, is a side elevation thereof showing, in full lines, its

use as a step ladder, and in dotted lines its use as an extended ladder; Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the ladder collapsed or folded;

Fig. 4, is an end view of one of the legs and a certain bracket; Fi 5, is a vertical section taken 011 line 5-.5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an edge View of one leg and a certain latch, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a certain latch for holding the ladder sections in spread relation.

Referring to said drawings, the reference characters 8, 8, designate the front legs and 9, 9, the rear legs which are pivotally secured thereto near their upper ends by alined screws or bolts 12, which passthrough the legs. Extending between the front legs '8 and secured thereto are the usual steps or ladder is used as a step ladder or when it is collapsed, and tosaid extensions 8 are secured brackets'13 (see Fig. 4) which have hook-like portions 14:, that receive the legs 9, when they are swung up into alinement with the legs 8,;to form a continuation thereof. The legs 9, then bear against the hooklike portions 14. To prevent "accidental buckling at the hinge joints when the legs 9 are extended, latches or catches 19 are provided which are pivotally secured to the legs 9, and may be swung into engagement with the hook-like portions 1 1 of the brack ets 13, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

For holding the legs 8, 9, in standing position as a step ladder, any simple means may be provided, and for convenience I have illustrated angle shaped straps 15, secured to the rear edges of the legs 8 and latches 16, pivotallysecured to the front edges of the legs 9, which latches 16, are capable of being swung into the spaces between the legs 8, and straps 15. Preferably, the latches 16, are formed with flanges 17, which extend across the space at the bottom of the opening between the legs 8 and straps 15, and finger holds 18, are provided upon the outer ends of the latches 16. When collapsed, the latches lie parallel with the legs 9, but when the legs are unfolded to provide a step ladder, the latches are swung down into engagement with the straps 15, and legs 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

For convenience a platform 20, is provided for holding a pail or other vessel, or other objects as may be desired. Said platform may be folded down when not in use and may be swung out into horizontal posie tion for use. Said platform has a pivotal and sliding connection with the legs '8, whereby it may be readily folded down or moved to operative position. As shown,the sliding, pivotal connection is formed by screws 22, secured in the legs 8, and extending through slots 26, formed between the arms 21 of the platform and straps 23, secured to the under side thereof. At one end of each slot 26, is a notch 24:, into which the screw enters to preventaccidental displacement of the platform when raised. Brackets 25, secured to the legs 8, have shoulders upon their lower edges against which the arms 21 bear when the platform has been moved to raised position. To lower the platform, it 110 swung down into the position seen in Fig. 3.

. To move it to operative or raised position,

it is swung up and then pushed backward bringing the arms 21, under the brackets 25. From the above description it is apparent that when collapsed, as seen in Fig. 8, the ladder occupies very little room; that when unfolded as seen in Fig. 2, it serves as a step ladder and that when the legs 9 are swung up into the osition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,"t e ladder serves as one having practically the combined length of both sections. V

' More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claim, to point out allof the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a step ladder, two hinged together step ladder sections, the one section embracing the sides of the other, angle shaped straps secured to one section, and latches pivotally secured to the other. section and having portions adapted to be inserted between the straps and members on which they are secured, to thereby hold the two step ladder sections in spread relation.

EDWARD JACOB.- 

